An E-2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa given to those from treaty countries who are interested in investing money into a US business in exchange for a temporary stay in the United States. You can learn more about the requirements and process of obtaining a E-2 Visa here. A E-2 Visa is a faster way for individuals to come to America for a temporary time. Our immigration lawyers share their secrets on how you can get an E-2 visa!
Secret #1: Make Sure Your Country Has an E-2 Treaty with the US
In order to obtain an E-2 visa your country must have an E-2 treaty with the US. There are currently 80 countries that have an E-2 treaty with the US. You can find the list of E-2 countries here. You must be a citizen of a country that has the E-2 treaty in order to be eligible for the investor visa. If your country isn’t eligible then you could apply for other investor visas such as the L-1A or the EB-5. It is important to have an immigration attorney look over your case to see which visa you will be most successful for.
Secret #2: Make Your Investment Before Submitting an Application
The E-2 visa requires you to invest “a substantial amount of capital” in a US business. A substantial investment is considered that you hold at least 50% ownership stake in a business or demonstrate that you have significant operational control of the business. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) doesn’t have a dollar amount that they require you to invest but they do have several guidelines how how much you should invest. While there is not technically a minimum investment amount many immigration lawyers recommend somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000. It ultimately comes down to what type of business you’re starting. The investment is to demonstrate the ability to provide a minimal living for the investor and their family.
Secret #3: Prepare Your Business Plan in a Legal Document
In your E-2 visa application you will need to attach a business plan. Your E-2 visa business plan must follow the E-2 visa requirements and guidelines. Since your business plan will be reviewed and evaluated by USCIS it is best to have prepared by an immigration attorney. If a business plan is prepared by an expert you have an increased chance of success by 30-50% according to Joorney.com. An E-2 Visa business plan should include the following items:
- The company’s description
- Personnel Plan
- Market and Competition Analysis
- Products and Services
- Industry Analysis
- 5 Year’s Financial Projections
Secret #4: Hire US Workers
E-2 Visas are designated to help the US economy and American workers. It is important to show in your E-2 visa application that you will be adding to the US economy by hiring US employees. The E-2 visa is not solely to benefit the investor and their family but to help Americans as well.
Get Expert Guidance with Your Application
When applying for an E visa, all the criteria must be met. With all of the paperwork and documentation required, it is easy to miss important details that can lead to a rejected application. Without any legal help, navigating through the complicated application process is frustrating and potentially fruitless. Luckily for you, we at Visaplace can help you with your application.
The first step towards a successful E-2 visa application is getting an assessment of your case. Fill out our free immigration assessment form and we will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility and options.
VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Ella Bergquist
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
